A common complaint of street riders is that other motorists fail
to observe them. Motorists who violate motorcyclists right-of-way
frequently state, I didnt see him, or He
came out of nowhere (Hurt,
1981).

The problem of other motorists failing to observe motorcyclists
apparently exists on several levels (see Motorist
Awareness, page 31). An important Hurt Report finding
was that conspicuous motorcycles and riders were less likely to
have their right-of-way violated by other vehicles.

A variety of recognized tactics exists to make motorcycles and
their riders more conspicuous: lighting, surface color and size,
and rider traffic strategy.

Lighting factors include:

 Since 1979, most motorcycles sold in the United States
have been equipped with automatic-on
headlamps to meet some state requirements. This seems
to have been an effective method of making them more conspicuous
and reducing right-of-way violations. Currently, 86 percent of
motorcycles on the road have their headlights on during daytime
(Turner,
2000).

 Using the high beam of a motorcycles headlight during
the day also helps to prevent violations of the motorcyclists
right-of-way (Hurt,
1981).

 In the cruising and touring categories, auxiliary headlights,
usually of reduced wattage, are gaining popularity. Many sportbikes
are equipped with dual headlights.

 Recently, some automobiles have started using daytime
running lamps (DRL), which may reduce the effectiveness
of motorcycle automatic-on headlamps.

 Headlight modulators, which cause the light to alternate
between a higher and a lower intensity during the day, also increase
conspicuity (Hurt,
1981). Headlight modulators are federally regulated
lighting devices and as such, all state laws governing them are
preempted. Motorcycle headlight modulators have not been studied
to determine their effects on other motorists.

 Many modern street bikes are equipped with position
lamps in their front turn signals. This may help other
motorists to identify the vehicle as a motorcycle and to better
judge its distance and speed.

 Few motorcycles have more than single-point rear lighting,
though multiple lights at the rear would seem to offer similar
benefits and also provide redundancy for the single taillight.

The color of and equipment on a motorcycle can play a significant
conspicuity role.

 Motorcycles equipped with additional frontal bodywork
(fairings which protect
the rider from wind and weather) were found to be under-represented
in crashes where motorists violated the motorcyclists right-of-way.
The larger the fairing and the brighter the color, the more effective
it seemed to be in preventing other vehicles right-of-way
violations (Hurt,
1981).

 During the period of study for the Hurt Report,
most fairings were aftermarket accessories added to motorcycles
for touring comfort. By the late 1980s, most manufacturers offered
some motorcycles with fairings as original equipment. In addition,
most sportbikes have smaller, more aerodynamic fairings, that tend
to be more brightly colored and often have elaborate graphic designs.
Whether the newer sport-style fairings have a significant effect
on conspicuity is not known.

 One of the easiest and most effective ways for a motorcyclist
to be seen by other motorists is by wearing brightly colored,
upper-torso cloth-ing and/or retro-reflective material. However,
only a minority of motorcyclists choose such brightly colored
apparel, whether for fashion or other reasons.

 Social and fashion pressures are apparently a powerful
reason for not wearing brightly colored clothing. Although sportbike
riders, who imitate racers, have largely accepted bright colors,
the larger cruiser category chooses apparel in almost nothing
but inconspicuous black. Other categories often choose other hard-to-see
colors such as gray, beige, and other neutral colors. The olive-drab
and camouflage apparel that the Hurt Report found over-represented
in the typical right-of-way-violation crash is still worn.

 Manufacturers and distributors of helmets confirm that
more than half of the motorcycle helmets sold for street use in
the United States are black, which seems to be chosen primarily
for fashion.

We want motorcyclists to be aware of how conspicuity issues affect
their safety and prepare accordingly.

We would like states to reconsider regulations that prohibit
proven and safe conspicuity-enhancing modifications to lighting
systems.

HOW
TO GET THERE

Education of motorcyclists to overcome their resistance to employing
conspicuity strategies is needed. Protective apparel manufacturers
can help by promoting conspicuity in their advertising and in their
apparel designs. Efforts that focus on peer acceptance of conspicuous
colors are also suggested.

Research is needed into the matters of conspicuity and why motorcyclists
are overlooked by other motorists. Programs should be implemented
based on the findings to correct this.

 Research that explores the reasons why drivers fail to
observe motorcyclists despite attempts to be more visible should
be a high priority.

 Information about specific high-conspicuity colors and
the uniqueness of applying them to specific locations on the bike
or rider would be useful to riders seeking greater conspicuity.

 DRL usage on cars may influences the environment and effectiveness
of motorcycle automatic-on headlamps and warrants investigation.

 Motorcycle lighting should be studied to find safe ways
to increase conspicuity and enhance recognition during the day
and at night.

Recommendations

 Conduct research to determine why other motorists fail
to see and identify motorcyclists and implement countermeasures.

 Encourage motorcyclists to enhance their conspicuity.

 Encourage manufacturers to make motorcycle apparel and
parts conspicuous.